Interesting 3-page expose on y2k in today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that speaks about the Pittsburgh area as a whole with regards to ysk. Interestingly enough, they go one step further and ask all of the surrounding suburbs about their y2k readiness for everything from traffic control to water and sewage.

The results? Well, the local power and energy folks see more problems with the brutal winters (snow,ice,cold) than with y2k. My power people say they have been 'onto' y2k since 1994 and that even their nuclear reactor in Shippingsport is compliant.

The city water and sewage is compliant, but my local municipality probably answered the question about compliance with a resounding, 'uh...what does that mean?' when posed the question. Glad I have stocked up on water.

Does all of this tell me that all is well in the Burg? Naw. Think I'll stay on the fence a little while longer.

-- Bad Company (johnny@shootingstar.com), August 01, 1999

Answers

From: http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/Y2K/Y2KReady.html

NRC web page says 9/30/99 as expected date for completion.

*snip*

Table 2 Plants With One or More Systems and Components That Could Affect Plant Operations Plant Systems Requiring Remediation Completion Date Reason for Delay Beaver Valley 1 and 2 Plant monitoring and trending computer*

Atmospheric radioactive effluent release assessment system

Emergency response data system

Emergency response facility monitoring and trending computer

-- Bill P (porterwn@one.net), August 01, 1999.

I couldn't believe it was the front page on Sunday.

I guess none of the Kennedy's died this weekend.

Remember the survey asked if they were compliant, or would be compliant by rollover.

Alcosan doesn't even have a web site, although the city's site is fairly comprehensive.

911 is not compliant yet.

Don't pick up the soap BC.

-- nothere nothere (notherethere@hotmail.com), August 01, 1999.

Bad Company,

Do you mean to tell me that the PG actually reported Shippingport is ready now when when they reported to the NRC that they "expect" to be finished by the end of September? That's outrageous. How am I supposed to rely on anything they'll claim then? How am I supposed to give credence to ANY of the self-reported data in the PG's report?

I understand the conundrum: If we out the nuke plants for the rollover, the regional grid will be jeopardized. If we don't, we risk nuclear catastrophe. So, what's a little meltdown matter here and there if we can keep the grid up? I'm just a couple hills and a river from Shippingport. It matters to me.

But most of us, even us GIs, just don't seem to be able to grasp or respond even to this domestic nuclear threat, let alone the threat the rest of the world's nuclear facilities pose. As I mentioned on another thread (http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch- msg.tcl?msg_id=001ASd) talking about the nuclear issue seems to be a big taboo. Is our obliviousness that dense? Is there genuinely no threat to discuss? Are we simply feeling helpless in the face of it? Is it the Grand Apathy that seems to have captured the nation's consciousness? How come all the silence?

Some days it's really hard not to be overcome with sheer disgust.

-- Faith Weaver (suzsolutions@yahoo.com), August 03, 1999.

I have looked for this "expose" on the PG's website. I can't find it. But, sometimes I can't find what's right in front of me. :-) Did anybody else find it on the website?

-- Lane Core Jr. (elcore@sgi.net), August 03, 1999.

Laneand other neighbors

I couldnt find this on the PGs web site either. So I scrounged up a copy of Sundays paper. Seasoned weaslers will certainly appreciate the very professional shuffle we see here.

For informational purposes only:

From: Staying connected, by Torsten Ove and Peter J. Shelly, Post- Gazette Staff Writers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sunday, August 1, 1999, p. A-11:

Duquesne Light started its plan in 1994. The company has completed its mission critical work, and by Sept. 30 it hopes [!] to have finished upgrading its business systems to ensure that, for instance, the customer call center or its billing system doesnt crash. After an initial audit, the company found roughly 100,000 components that needed to be checked. It whittled those down to 10,000 items that had some microprocessing element in them. In the end, about 100 systems were either replaced or upgraded. Duquesne Light says its nuclear power plant in Shippingport is also Y2K compliant for mission critical systems involving operations, safety and security. The plant has numerous contingency plans already in place for its everyday operations. In addition, extra crews will be on hand New Years Eve in certain areas, and some employees will be on call. Other utilities have been taking similar steps to make sure theyre ready. Despite all the precautions, PEMA is prepared to go to work if necessary. But in wintry January, mother nature might present a greater challenge than any computer glitch. Were more worried about an ice storm than we are any problems associated with Y2K, said [PEMA spokesman Marko] Bourne. Its a lot harder to put power lines back up than it is to deal with these problems. ========== Just as Bad Company reported. Think it speaks pretty much for itself.

( I do hope, though, that Marko is right about the power lines being harder to fix than these pesky y2k bug thingies. )

Oh, theres a fine list of PA utilities that are ready, and not, in this section, too. The three (count em) that are Y2K compliant or have acceptable contingency plans in place are: Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, Inc., Equitable Gas Co., Peoples Natural Gas Co.

Power companies? Not one? Hm.

-- Faith Weaver (suzsolutions@yahoo.com), August 03, 1999.